Hello Autumn! This is one season I always welcome with open arms. I love everything about it – the crisp cool weather, pumpkin spice lattes, the changing of the leaves. And let’s not forget fall fashion. I dream of cashmere jumpers, big wooly scarves and fur-lined boots.

It brings me such joy when the temperatures drop and it’s time to break out the boots. But please, whatever you do, do not reach for the UGGs. It seems everyone owns them despite knowing they shouldn’t.

I’m not hating on the brand as a whole, just the classic style that takes your legs from fab to stunted tree stumps in mere seconds. It doesn’t matter if they are just for the school run or around the house. If a shoe can make Kate Moss look dumpy, what hope is there for the rest of us?

You can be comfortable without having to commit one of fashion’s biggest faux pas. Here are my top picks for keeping comfortable without sacrificing your style.

These Seven Boot Lane Kylie boots are my top pick. I actually bought these and it broke my heart to return them, but they made my feet look really big. Note: my feet ARE really big, I wear a UK size 8. So I’d say these are perfect for those a size 6 and under, sadly. Plus Seven Boot Lane have very kindly given me a special discount offer to share – enter LOLO15 at checkout and you’ll get 15% off (you can use it on ANY new season style until 29/10/17)!

For a more traditional boot style these Boden beauties tick all the boxes. They come in three different colours but my fave is the grey with a contrasting yellow zip pull. The sheepskin lining looks oh so soft!

If you’re usually just housebound in your UGGs, these slippers are a great alternative. They actually looking very similar to the branded version but are much more affordable! I’m actually on my own second pair after I wore out the first – they are sooo comfy!

If you’ve been over to my Instagram lately, you’ll have noticed I have a penchant for red. Heck if you’ve been on any style blog, Instamum page or opened a fashion magazine in the past couple of months you’ll probably already know that red is THE colour to be seen in this season.

I’ve got a slight theory why red is so big this season and it’s similar to the ‘Lipstick Effect’. Basically put, when times are tough, we search for small ways to brighten them up. Roll in shades of fire engine red, juicy orange and even vibrant mustard.

@brittanybathgate

It’s a defense mechanism to keep things rosy whilst we pray that Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un call a truce, house prices stop rising and flexible working finally becomes the norm. Because while we can’t change the world overnight, we certainly can change our attitude and outlook. And it’s a proven fact (according to Vogue!) that wearing bright colours can brighten your mood.

@thefashionlift

Here are three of the boldest and the brightest jumpers on the high street. Red because we all know Mondays can be hard work; jumpers because well it’s Monday and we all still want to be cosied up in our duvets. These are the next best thing.

I’m writing this sat in my car outside of little L’s nursery. It’s his last settling in session before he starts one day a week. I’ve been okay up until now. Heck I’ve even excited for him to start this new chapter and for me to gain a solid day when I can begin taking on clients and putting my business brain on again.

But now… I’m a bit emotional. This is normal right? When I look back at these past 10 months I can’t believe how far we’ve come. There have been ups and downs, laughter and tears, sick and smiles, but overall, I’m kind of loving this motherhood gig.

Bag packed and ready for nursery!

That being said, it’s only been for the past er, couple of months that I’m finally starting to feel a little bit myself again. Little L is going to bed much easier in the evenings which means this mama can have a night off – and catch up with friends over dinner and drinks like the old days. Except of course that I’m ready for bed by 10pm. Baby steps okay?

Out for a sunny stroll... the sunshine didn't last (it is England!)

But the dawn of this new chapter is a bit emotional. I’ve always loved September and this one is no exception. Its fresh start, which is probably engrained in our brains from school days. It feels exciting and fresh. Which is kind of weird because autumn is all dead leaves and darker days. But I don’t care, I love it.

I’ve already had my first (but by no means last) pumpkin spice latte of the season. Thanksgiving is just around (my) corner. And funnily enough, Little L’s 10 month birthday yesterday also meant its just 100 days until Christmas! So it's now 99 and counting (even if I'm the only one counting)...

Over the past few months I’ve had the pleasure of working with St Albans Fashion Week as their resident stylist. This culminated last week when I hosted an event called How to Look Good Knackered, alongside their week long celebration of fashion, retail and local businesses.

The event itself was a great success – I had around 25 fabulous women in attendance and I was pleased to welcome the gorgeous make-up artists from Bare Minerals and the lovely Julie Cole, a stylist with Stella & Dot jewellery, to showcase their wares.

I also learnt that speaking in front of a group of people for an extended period of time is not an easy task when 37-weeks pregnant! Due to the length of the talk, I hadn’t done a full run-through … and didn’t anticipate that baby L would be burying himself in my upper torso, giving me very reduced lung capacity!

Lolo and her rail of clothes at St Albans Fashion Week

Despite this it was a lovely evening and so far I’ve received some great feedback! As such I thought I’d share with you some of my top tips if you weren’t able to attend the evening….

Let’s face it, we ALL have those days when we feel like no amount of makeup will hide our exhaustion, our favourite outfit isn’t coming to the rescue, and even carrying that beautiful bag won’t draw attention away from the bags under our eyes. Let’s be honest, life can be exhausting. And for most of us, our selves are one of the first things we sacrifice when the diary gets full and we’re running on empty.

So the million pound question, how DO you still look good when you are absolutely knackered?! Here are my top tips…

1) Know your shape and style

It’s not about fashion and what’s trendy, it’s about your personal style and what works for you. We all have different personalities, different lifestyles and different body shapes.

If you struggle with this, there are plenty of online resources to help (check out Pinterest!). I also offer a free body shape guide when you sign up for my email newsletter – you can do so here.

Which of the main body shapes are you?

Dressing for your shape is one of the best things you can do to look more pulled together and stylish. It’s not about size - anyone at any size can look fab, but you have to know your shape and how to dress for it!

2) Get your wardrobe in shape

I always suggest new clients start with a wardrobe detox. The best way to get the most out of your wardrobe is to know what’s in it. I’m sure you’ve heard that most women wear 20% of their clothing 80% of the time – I actually think these numbers are even more skewed!

My general rule is that if you haven’t worn it in six months, it doesn’t belong hanging up. Also anything with stains or holes needs to go (unless it can be repaired – and you actually will do it). If your clothes look knackered, then so will you!

Invest a couple hours, twice a year, in a closet clear-out and you’ll save yourself so much time in the long run!

3) Wear colour

Colour is so important. You don’t need someone telling you what season you are though. I strongly believe that all women have a natural instinct and know what works for them – they just often choose to ignore it. And then retreat to basic black and white.

If you’re tired, colour will liven you up. Black absorbs light, and will make dark circles and fine lines more noticeable. White does the opposite – it reflects light. Which is great if you’ve got a glow, but not if you want to hide under a duvet. Choose something colourful and you’ll be amazed at the difference it can make.

4) Make-up, make-up, make-up

This is a pretty obvious one, but it works. Have a basic routine ready that you can nail in a matter of seconds, focusing on features that you love.

If you’re frequently looking drab and don’t have time for a face full of make-up, invest in longer term solutions – like getting a monthly facial. Or even just regularly exfoliating and using a great moisturizer will make a difference.

Bare Minerals Make-up Artist Lucy, showing an attendee how to liven up her skin

If I could only choose three products to pick me up, I’d go with 1) a concealer to get put those bags at bay (this Bare Minerals one is my favourite), 2) mascara to open up your eyes (no need to spend here though – cheap supermarket brands are just as good as premium!) and 3) a bright lipstick to draw attention away from where you look most tired. At the moment I’m really loving lip crayons like these from Bobbi Brown and Lipstick Queen – they’re a great all-around product.

5) Know how to pull an outfit together

This is probably the most difficult one and it will take some practice. Obviously, I’m going to say get in the professionals who will help make it easy on you!

When I take clients shopping, they often ask for one of my Look Books- it outlines several different ways to wear the items they bought. I also do Outfit Building – where I come to your house and working with what you already have, pull together a number of outfits (up to 50 in three hours!), take snaps and leave them for you to use as necessary.

If you want to work on this one on your own, follow the ‘three-piece Rule’ – wear at least three articles of clothing that are interesting in their own regard. You can also spend some time taking snaps of your favourite outfits and keep them somewhere handy (like posted inside your wardrobe) so when you have those ‘ I don’t know what to wear!’ mornings, you’ve got a handy guide right at your fingertips.

Put these tips into practice and your routine will work better for you and you’ll look less knackered, I promise! If you need more help, do get in touch. Or if you’d like to add something, please comment below!

As I begin the third trimester today (yay!) those first twelve weeks of pregnancy seem like a distant memory. While it was a super exciting time, it was also just a bit stressful. Having to avoid certain things and activities whilst keeping it secret, was not easy. Add to that silent stress about the health and well being of the tiny human growing inside me, and my mind was full of what if scenarios!

Then there were all the actual physical changes happening in and to my body. I read a lot, and Googled ever more (who am I kidding, I still am!), but not really knowing what was normal and was not is somewhat emotionally draining. Especially because none of it is ‘normal’ to you – everything is new and unknown.

I’ve been very fortunate to have a reasonably straightforward pregnancy thus far. I was never sick and aside from excessive tiredness, I can’t really complain. Then at the end of the first trimester when you first get to see your little baby – well it’s just magical.

It’s been, without a doubt, one of the most exciting and anticipated periods of my life. But I won’t pretend navigating the unknown has been easy. Here are a few of the things that have helped me along the way…

1) Reading materials

I think within 24 hours of finding out I was pregnant, I had ordered What to Expect When You’re Expecting from Amazon. It’s everyone’s go to guide, probably because it contains a huge amount of information in easy to digest format. I highly recommend!

I also downloaded their app – while I think its more geared toward an American audience, it’s a great resource. I also use the Pregnancy+ app – another great one for daily and weekly updates.

2) Nakd bars

Nakd bars available from Amazon, health food stores and most supermarkets

One symptom that appeared almost overnight was the hunger pains. If I didn’t eat something, anything, every two to three hours, I was not in a happy place. Between working and travelling it was sometimes difficult to have a healthy or fresh snack, so I stocked up on these.

They’re the perfect size to carry in your handbag. Plus they’re made from 100% natural ingredients – just fruits and nuts. They’re gluten and dairy free, have no added sugars and they keep that hunger at bay. My favourite flavours are Berry Delight, Cocoa Orange and Café Mocha.

3) Hair elastics

Just loop an elastic through the button hole and over the button - loop around a few times if needed!

Once again a simple hair elastic came to my rescue (if you missed my video, I use them to help put bracelets on too!). A couple months into pregnancy, my jeans became a bit snug but were still totally wearable.

I wasn’t ready to get into maternity clothes quite yet so I used an elastic, looped around the button and hole, to add a bit of an extension. It seems too easy, but this trick never failed me – until my bump grew too big!

4) Lotions and potions

I’m not sure how common it is, but I was sooo itchy in the beginning of my pregnancy. I’ve always been a bit slack about applying the moisturizer but quickly realized what a godsend it was.

You’re skin is stretching and there’s all kinds of hormonal changes happening so it makes sense. My favourites at the moment are Aveeno and Palmers.

I was also gifted a Mama Mio Pregnancy Starter kit and some Bio Oil – both of which I’ve quickly went through. I’ve become consistent in applying either the oil or cream to my belly twice daily – so far no stretch marks!

5) Water bottle

From a selection at TK Maxx

I drink water like a camel regardless, but have found myself even thirstier throughout pregnancy, especially when I’m out and about.

I totally recommend buying a proper water bottle. I got mine at TK Maxx for I think £3.99. I love the no tilt straw bit – which will be super handy during L&D and while breastfeeding. Plus the tuck in straw means I’m less likely to spill it – becoming clumsier during pregnancy is no joke!

Did/do you have any must-have items for mums-to-be in their first trimester? Please share your tips and recommendations or any thoughts on my favourite things! And stay tuned for my must-haves during my second and third trimesters as well.